NSX Type-R

All NSX-R photos are courtesy of Dr. Yoshihiro Hamaya, M.D., PhD

The NSX-R is 265 lb. lighter than stock, and it's equipped with a suspension tuned to provide what Honda hoped was the best possible compromise between racing and acceptable road use

Most of the weight savings come from deleting the air conditioning (42 lb.), the undercoating (39 lb.), various electrical equipment (23 lb.), the spare wheel (14 lb.) and the stereo system (13 lb.). Also scrapped are the stock seats, in favor of Recaros that save an additional 38 lb. The NSX-R's bumper beams are also made of aluminum rather than steel.

New wheels reduce unsprung weight by 9 lb., but the reinforced front and rear aluminum subframes and larger shock absorbers add a little more than 5 lb. to the tally.

The powertrain is essentially stock, except that the 274-bhp 3.0-liter V-6 has been blueprinted. Traction control is not fitted to the car, and the final drive ratio has been lowered from 4.06:1 to 4.24:1. The limited-slip differential is twice as stiff as standard. The engine cover has been replaced with a lightweight mesh unit.

Externally, very little sets the NSX-R apart from the stock car, but inside the cockpit you'll immediately notice the wonderfully supportive Recaros, a titanium shift lever and a businesslike Momo steering wheel.

The dash looks a lot less crowded without controls for the air conditioning and stereo (which are both optional), but Honda has retained the electric window lifts, fore/aft electric seat adjusters and the standard door handles and armrests.